By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY – Okarche’s postseason run reached its end Friday afternoon.
Inability to stop red hot Cyril’s three-point shooting barrage combined with untimely turnovers led to a 80-55 loss, eliminating the Warriors from the Class A State Tournament in the semifinals at Jim Norick Arena.
The Pirates opened the game with a 23-9 run in the first quarter and never looked back, shooting nearly 60-percent from the field while going 11-for-22 from three-point range in handing Okarche its first loss in over a month. The Warriors turned the ball over 23 times and couldn’t keep up with Cyril’s pace, scoring just 23 points in the first half before dropping 32 in the final 16 minutes.
Okarche failed to find any rhythm offensively while Cyril capitalized on a hot start.
Junior Jakobie Kaesemeyer led the charge against the Warriors in the first half, scoring 16 of his game-high 20 points in the first two quarters on 6-for-8 shooting overall and 3-for-5 from long range. Senior Albert Suarez spurred his team defensively, forcing six turnovers as the Pirates clamped down, forcing Okarche to shoot just 8-for-20 in the first half, including 2-for-7 on triples.
Warriors senior Kalen McCarthy scored eight of his team-high 11 points in the first half, trying to keep his team within striking distance before halftime. But out of the break it was still all Cyril.
The Pirates closed the game shooting 62-percent in the second half while going 5-for-8 from deep. The Warriors were forced to settle for three-pointers late, but couldn’t connect, going 3-for-13 from beyond the arc down the stretch. A 40-23 halftime deficit turned into 61-34 after the third quarter.
Seniors Mason Bomhoff and Cris Avila got going in the second half, but it was too little too late. The duo combined for 11 points in the final two quarters after scoring just five in the first half. Bomhoff finished with nine points while Avila scored seven. Junior Kaleb Harris chipped in eight points as well.
The Warriors tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Pirates 21-19. Coach Ray West emptied his bench late in the game, allowing one last round of applause for the team’s rotation players and six seniors.
West’s team, even in defeat, still showed class and respect in the final minutes. Cyril coach Shane McLemore inserted junior Christian Patterson, an autistic player for the Pirates, in order to score his first points at state. The Warriors players allowed Patterson to weave his way through the pain and on his second attempt, he connected for a moment all fans in the arena, including Okarche’s, enjoyed.
The Warriors finished the season with a 25-6 record, including championship game wins in the Garber Tournament, the Coyle Invitational and the Class A Area Tournament. The team graduates six seniors, including McCarthy, Bomhoff, Avila, Tucker Neuenschwander, Kendon Brown and Lathen Stover.
